Thursday, February 02, 2006

Eminent Domain S. 1038

Next week we'll have the first chance to discuss eminent domain on the floor. The bill, S. 1038, strengthens South Carolina's strictures on the use of eminent domain. The salient part of this bill is, "A mere public purpose or public benefit, including, but not limited to, the purpose or benefit of economic development, does not constitute the requisite public use for property to be condemned by eminent domain."This eliminates the possibility of a situation such as that in Connecticut where the town took private property and gave it to a developer because, they said, the redevelopment would serve the public good.I don't imagine that even the strongest proponents of big government will object to this, but you never know.